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Casio Exilim EX-S5 / EX-S12 | Digital Camera Resource Page News

Casio Exilim EX-S5 / EX-S12

Date posted: Thursday, January 8, 2009

The final two Exilim models are in the ultra-thin category. The EX-S5 is a pretty
basic point-and-shoot camera, while the EX-S12 has some of the bells and whistles
found in the Z-series models above. Here are the details on both of these:

"As well as the rectangular focusing
frame usually displayed on the LCD monitor, users can choose designs
such as a heart or a butterfly for the frame design. When the camera
is correctly focused, a beautiful heart can be displayed, and when correct
focus is not achieved the heart pattern breaks up. This makes it easy
to ensure correct focus, and it is fun, too."

Stylish digital cameras make great use of Casio’s
high-speed digital technologies

LAS VEGAS, NV, JANUARY 8, 2009 — Casio America, Inc. and its
parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., released some exciting details about
its upcoming digital camera models today. Soon to be released are the slim,
compact High Speed EXILIM models EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 featuring high-speed
burst shooting faster than an SLR camera, and the EXILIM models EX-Z400, EX-Z270,
and EX-S12, which make the most of Casio’s high-speed image processing
engine to enable users to cut and paste moving subjects onto still backgrounds.

Casio has been a pioneer in digital cameras for over ten years. The new models
maintain Casio’s long tradition of innovation and creativity. In 1995,
Casio introduced the QV-10, the world’s first consumer digital camera
with an LCD monitor so users could view the images they had just taken. In
2002, the company released the EX-S1, a card-sized camera so thin that it could
be carried anywhere. In 2008, Casio launched the highly anticipated EX-F1 and
EX-FH20, boasting high-speed burst shooting capabilities to ensure that users
would never miss a crucial moment again, not to mention the ability to record
high-speed movies that capture motion too fast for the human eye to perceive.

Casio’s effective use of fast digital technologies to deliver unprecedented
high-speed burst shooting and high-speed image processing of these new models
has exceeded all expectations of what digital cameras should be able to accomplish.
These stylish cameras are the first bold step in a major transformation of
the traditional definition of the photograph, offering users entirely new ways
of enjoying still and moving images.

High Speed EXILIM models EX-FS10 and EX-FC100
By reducing the size of the circuitry and the image sensor units, Casio has
produced two very small cameras that offer a high-speed 30 shot-per-second
burst rate and high-speed movies at a maximum of 1000 fps. The EX-FS10 is
a card-sized camera just .64” thin, and the EX-FC100 is a compact camera
that fits perfectly in the palm of the hand. These cameras also offer a number
of other innovative functions including allowing the user to capture a still
image while viewing the movement of their subject in slow motion and automatically
selecting and saving one frame from continuous shots.

EXILIM models EX- Z400, EX-Z270, and EX-S12
Taking advantage of the high-speed image processing abilities of Casio’s
state-of-the-art EXILIM Engine 4.0, which is built into these models, the new
Dynamic Photo function allows the photographer to cut out the main subject
of interest in an image that has just been captured and then combine it with
another image to form the background. Users can also cut and paste several
rapid-succession images to create a moving subject on a still background. This
function makes it easy for users to create composite scenes from an image juxtaposition
that exists only in virtual reality, or they can create a composite image that
conveys a certain message. Casio technologies like these are creating whole
new avenues of enjoyment that go far beyond mere picture-taking, delivering
greater creative and viewing pleasure.

Casio has set up a special website (www.exilim.com/dp/)
that demonstrates many interesting ways to use the Dynamic Photo function.
Following the release of the cameras, Casio will offer new services that expand
the fun of the Dynamic Photo function

Also to be released at this time is the EXILIM EX-S5 — a camera with
a compact body based on a new design concept — which makes high-quality
photographic functionality simpler to use than ever before.

“Casio is dedicated to creating ‘out of the box’ features
and new technology packed into our digital cameras,” said Bill Heuer,
Vice President of Sales for Digital Imaging Division at Casio America, Inc. “We
continue to be at the forefront of the digital camera market, providing new
levels of convenience for the consumer taking photographs and shooting high-quality
videos.”

The six new cameras will be available at retail in March. The
EX-FS10, MSRP $349.99 will be available in blue, gray, red and white; the EX-FC100,
MSRP $399.99 will be available in gray and white; the EX-Z400, MSRP $299.99,
will be available in brown, gold and pink; the EX-Z270, MSRP $229.99, will
be available in black, gray, gold and pink; the EX-S12, MSRP $249.99, will
be available in silver, pink, green and black; and the EX-S5, MSRP $179.99
will be available in blue, black gold, silver, pink and purple.

Newly developed EXILIM Engine 4.0 built in
Representing a significant upgrade from the EXILIM Engine 3.0, the EXILIM Engine
4.0 is a powerful electronic package comprised of an ordinary CPU and a high-speed
dedicated image processing CPU. It delivers outstanding color reproduction
and a rich tonal range that guarantees superior visual expression. Noise
reduction at high-sensitivity levels also helps to produce high-quality,
beautiful images. Even better, despite the new image combination functionality
and other functions that entail complex processing, energy consumption is
about 30% lower than before, which means longer battery life. The new engine
successfully combines the pursuit of radical new functionality with improvements
to many conventional camera features.

Dynamic Photo function, where the subject moves against a still background
Thanks to the high-speed image processing capability of the new engine, a moving
subject can be cut out of a number of images that have been shot and combined
with a different still shot that forms the background. A unique digital camera
image where only the main subject in the photo is moving can be created using
just the camera, with no editing on a computer.

Other functions that utilize the new image processing engine

Hand-held night photography (EX-Z400 and EX-Z270 only), and shooting in
adverse lighting conditions
In cases where it can be difficult to get a good shot, such as with night scenes
which tend to result in photo blur, or where backlighting can cause poor exposure
of faces or the background, these cameras automatically analyze the situation
and make the most appropriate settings. This means that all the user has to
do is to press the shutter button to take beautiful pictures.

Tracking AF
Using the image analysis technology in the new engine, the ability of the auto
focus function to automatically follow a moving subject has been refined. In
addition to improvements to the accuracy of auto focus tracking, when a subject
leaves the frame the camera makes a record of it, and when the same subject
once again enters the frame it is recognized by the camera, and auto focusing
is resumed.

Makeup function
In addition to recognizing faces and adjusting focus and exposure accordingly,
these cameras can make adjustments to smooth skin in images and soften facial
shadows caused by sunlight, creating beautiful photographs of people’s
faces. The photographer can choose from one of twelve levels of skin beauty
using different strengths of image processing, and can shoot after viewing
the results in the LCD monitor.

HD Movie function
Just by pressing the dedicated movie button, these cameras will record beautiful
HD movies at a size of 1280x720 pixels.

A complete lineup

EXILIM EX-Z400
This model boasts a wide-angle 28 mm, 4X optical zoom lens and has an effective
12.1-megapixel resolution. It also features a large 3.0-inch high-resolution
and super clear LCD monitor and the CCD shift anti-shake mechanism. The long
life battery can take around 550 shots on a full charge.

EX-S12
This camera has a stylish body measuring just 3.7” wide x 2.1” high
x .6” thin (.5” at the thinnest part). It boasts a 3X optical zoom
and a super clear, 2.7-inch widescreen LCD monitor and has an effective
12.1-megapixel resolution. It is finished in a design with both the high-class
feel and beauty of stainless steel.

In addition to offering the ability to reproduce a detailed image of the subject,
this camera is very responsive and easy to operate. It has an effective 10.1-megapixel
resolution, and delivers excellent performance. Images taken at high resolution
can be enjoyed as beautiful photographs whether printed large or cropped before
printing.

Easy-to-see 2.7-inch widescreen LCD
This camera features an easy-to-see widescreen 2.7-inch LCD monitor. Shooting
information is shown in an “operating panel” on the right hand
side of the screen, which makes it easy to quickly change camera settings
while shooting.

Fun widescreen movie recording
Just by pressing the movie button, widescreen movies can be recorded with an
aspect ratio of 16:9. The camera also offers YouTube Capture Mode, which
records and saves movies at the ideal settings for the world’s largest
video sharing site, YouTube. Recorded video can be easily uploaded to YouTube
using the special included computer software.

Customizable focusing frames and menu screens

Focus frames
As well as the rectangular focusing frame usually displayed on the LCD monitor,
users can choose designs such as a heart or a butterfly for the frame design.
When the camera is correctly focused, a beautiful heart can be displayed, and
when correct focus is not achieved the heart pattern breaks up. This makes
it easy to ensure correct focus, and it is fun, too.

Menu screens

Menu screens can be freely selected from a total of six colors — black,
chocolate, cinnamon, rose, sky blue and olive green.